Pyrotechnic composition



unites 1 ROBERT E. IF'D'LTQN, OF IIil'DIAI l' HEAI3-, MARYLAND.

rrnornennic comrosirion.

No Drawing.

To all whomit may concern:

"Be it known that I, RoBEn'r R. FULTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indian Head, Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pyrotechnic Composition, of which-the following is a specification. 1 This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in pyrotechnic compost: tion. Y

One of the objects of inv e ntion is the production of a non-gaseous igiiition m1xture to he used as the base charge or principal ingredient of incendiaiyhombs, and as an ignition powder in connection with pyrotechnic and thermit compositions which are ignited with difi'iculty.

A further object is to provide a pyrotechnic composition which will ignite from the spit of a miners or safety fuse, orat the touch of and hot wire; which burns quietly with only a slight evolution of gaseous products, and which produces an extremely hot, molten slag which forms in globules and resembles steel; which is safe to handle and manipulate; and which will not deteriorate when stored for long periods of time.

Other ob ects Wlll be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. The process preferably consists of a mixture of lron oxid, cupric oxid, aluminum metal, magnes1um metal, and red or amorphous phos- 1 phorus, all finely powdered.

In preparing the composition, I prefer to use the ingredients in about the following proportions, viz

Good results may be obtained, however, when the ingredients are varied withln the following lllllItS1 Iron. oxid 3550 parts. Cupric oxid 5-10 Aluminum metal 7-20 Magnesium metal 2- 8 The ingredients may be mixed in any or Red phosphorus der except that the red phosphorus should he Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed-April 16, 1821.

Patented Dec. 13, rear. Serial in). 461,954.

added last. The red hosphorus used in this composition should lye free from white or yellow phosphorus, and phosphoric acid. The iron oxid may be magnetic iron oxid, powdered hammer scale, or a cheap grade of the onid of ironsuch as Venetian red.

he aiuminuin. andm. gneslum may he of,

the technical. variety, but ;.-the ..cupric said should he of fairly good grade.

The aghountsgoig the various ingredients employed depends upon frhe amountof heat, the rapidity-of reaction," aiid the sensitivity to fiamefdesired, The sensitivity to flame may be controlled thup ughtlwide limits by varying the amounts or red phosphorus and magnesium. The amount of heat may he :ontrolled to a considerable extent by varying .the amounts of iron oxid, cupric oxid and aluminum. The composition should be stored in dry, air-tight containers of glass or tin.

My composition ignites from the flame of a match, trom the spit of a fuse, or at the touch of a red hot wire; burns quietly with only a slight evolution of gas, producing a temperature suflicient to melt aluminum, copper xsteel, iron, nickelichromium alloy, and other'high melting'point" metals. It possesses in ahigh degree all the desired properties of apyrotechnic mixture to be used as the base charge or principal ingredient of incendiary bombs, and as an ignition powder for pyrotechnic compositions i thermit mixtures, and the like which respjia f a high temperature for 'ignition' 2. A pyrotechnic comphsition of the charactor hereindescribed containing black iron oxid, cupric oxid, aluminum metal,mag-

nesium metaland red phosphorus all in powdered form.

3. A pyrotechnic composition of the character set forth comprising substantially thirty-five partsof iron oxir, five parts cuprioo'xid, seven parts aluminum metal, five parts magnesium metal, one part red phosphorus.

Signed at'lndian Head, Maryland, this 25th day of March, 1921.

RQBERT FULTON.

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